Announcements

Sending dues bills via e-mail

Initial 2006 CBR REALTOR® dues bills will be distributed via e-mail this year. Paper bills will be sent to members who do not have an e-mail address in the system. This change is part of our ongoing effort to contain administration costs so please be sure your e-mail address is correct in the CBR TEMPOTM MLS. If you are not a member of the MLS, you can check your e-mail address through the `Find a REALTOR®' or `Find an Affiliate' search on ColumbusRealtors.com. To correct your e-mail address, call Lenora Moore at (614) 475-4000 x253 or e-mail Lenora at LMoore@ColumbusRealtors.com (please put "e-Mail correction" in the subject line). Thank you!

More support for the victims of Katrina

The CBR Board of Directors voted to contribute $15,000 to the REALTOR® Relief Fund established to assist the victims of the Katrina hurricane. In addition, CORPAC donated $2,567 from funds collected for mulligan and gimme stick sales at their September Golf Outing. An analysis conducted by the Enterprise Foundation shows nearly 1 million homes were damaged or destroyed by Katrina, and to repair or rebuild them will cost about $87.6 billion. As of 9/22/05, a total of $3,910,295 has been contributed to the REALTOR® Relief Fund which includes the $1.15 million in seed money from the National Association of REALTORS® and $50,000 from the Ohio Association of REALTORS®.

Dale Stinton named NAR EVP and CEO

Dale A. Stinton was named executive vice president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Realtors® on 9/21/05. Stinton, who is NAR's chief financial and chief information officer, will take over the reins of the nation's largest trade association on November 1, succeeding Terry McDermott, who is retiring. Stinton joined NAR 24 years ago and became CFO in 1991. He oversaw NAR's new $47 million award-winning Washington, D.C., office building and establishment of the $52 million Strategic Investment Reserve. Stinton managed creation of the REALTOR® Housing Relief Fund in 2001 which assisted more than 1,200 families victimized by the September 11 attacks, and the REALTOR® Relief Foundation, which has raised funds to aid victims of the hurricanes in 2004, the Tsunami earlier this year, and Hurricane Katrina.

Sales Associates Day Raffle _ October 20

The Equal Opportunity Committee will host a raffle at Sales Associates Day to raise funds for the grant program. Several nice prizes have been donated, including restaurant certificates and gift baskets for this event. So bring cash for a chance at one of these prizes and to contribute to this very worthwhile program.

Spotlight on Community Application - November 1

The Columbus Board of REALTORS® Communication Committee is accepting applications for the 4th quarter 2006 Spotlight on Community Service recognition. Four members will be selected and featured in the January In Contract for their work in the community. If you or a colleague is deserving of this recognition, please nominate yourself or your colleague by completing the application inserted in this magazine and submit by November 1, 2005.

Deadline is November 2 for Million Dollar Club Award

If you are planning to apply for the CBR $1, $5, $10 or $25 Million Dollar Club award, the deadline of November 2 is fast approaching. The sales award year is November 1, 2004 through October 31, 2005. The Rules & Regulations were reformatted and revised for 2005.

Remember, in order to qualify, you must have fulfilled the service requirement which includes serving on a CBR committee (and meeting its attendance requirement) or serving as an officer in an area association.

When submitting your application...

Closings PRIOR to Sept. 1, 2000

HUD/closing statement with applicant's signature, date, address, price and commission highlighted
Listing contract (worksheet & contract) [if taking credit for the listing] 3) Purchase agreement [if taking credit for the sale]

Closings AFTER Sept. 1, 2000

1) Sales Certification Form - signed by you and the Settlement Agent (in lieu of purchase contract or listing contract)
2) MLS Agent Full Report (with "SOLD" status) with name of applicant, date, address, and sold price highlighted.

It makes no difference if the listing agent(s) and selling agent(s) use the same form! You can use separate forms if you wish! Click here to access the more information on the Million Dollar Club.

LearningExpress Library Up and Running in Ohio

The LearningExpress Library is now up and running in Ohio and will provide students and adults with 24/7 access to online math, reading and writing aides, as well as, interactive practice tests for the grade-school achievement, SAT, GED, U.S. Citizenship, and civil service. Also available are EMS, firefighter and real estate license exams and career building tools.

To enter LearningExpress Library:

Click here
Enter your library card number
Select your library from the drop down menu
Scroll down to the LearningExpress Library hyperlink
Select 'Real Estate' from the right side navigation for license exam practice tests.

LearningExpress Library is a two-year project funded by the State Library of Ohio and the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN).